Nail-machine.



No. 654,047. Patented July I7, 1900; r

J. ATKINS.

NAIL MACHINE.

(Applicaltion 816d m1. 2a, 1900.) v (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet I fizinewwes Izzvezzivr No. 654,047. Patented. July 17, I900. J. ATKINS.

NAIL MACHINE.

(Application filed m. 23, 1900. 0 L) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Zfidirzedwew, 0w W A I Wax/CM No. 654,047. Patented July l7, I900. J. ATKINS.

NAIL MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 23, 1900.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 (No Model.)

m$zew e .9. Q a

D15 Mann's PETERS $0., FNOTO-UITNOH wgsmuomu. Li 0.

.Pata'nted July l7, I900.

J ATKINS NAIL IIACI'IINE. edJm 25,1900.

6 $haots-$heat 5.

(No Model.)

Zlivzemw,

JAMES ATKINS, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

NAIL-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,047, dated July 17, 1900. Application filed January 23, 1900. Serial No. 2,418. (No model.)

To all whom it Hwy concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nail-Machines, of whichth following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in nail-machines, and specifically to a machine of the kind shown in my application, Serial No. 2,419, filed of even date herewith,wherein the nail-blanks immediately upon being fed are removed from the feeding device to the heading device, so that the heading and feeding operations can take place simultaneously rather than successively. My said application showed this principle of operation in connection with a multiple nail-inachine comprising several sets of concurrentlyoperating mechanisms, each of such sets of mechanisms being capable of performing the various operations of cutting, feeding, and heading, but operating in conjunction with a transfer-table or carrier serving for all ofthe sets.

My present invention relates to a machine embodying these principles in connection with a radial wire-feedthat is, a wire-feed directed toward the axis of rotation of the transfer-table and in such manner that, the sets of nail mechanisms being symmetrically arranged around such transfer-table, the lateral pressure on the transfer-table is substantially done away .with, as the pressures due to the several sets of mechanisms balance one another; In connection with this mechanism I have herein shown means for twisting the wire during the forming operation, this feature being applicable when it is desired to form twisted wire nails.

My present invention also relates to cerrain of the features of construction as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention with a portion of the top broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of same on line A Ain Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line B B in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan View of a portion of the transfer-table, showing the clamping, twisting, and ejecting mechanisms. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of The operating elements of the machine are mounted in a suitable frame consisting of suitable vertical posts or standards 1 and horizontal frame-plates 2 3 4 5. Arranged centrallyin this frame and journaled in suitable bearings is a vertical shaft 6, which serves to operate all the working parts, such shaft being actuated by any suitable means, as by a belting to a pulley (indicated at 7) thereon. Near itslower end this shaft carries a gear 8, engaging with gears 9, respectively attached to four vertical shafts 10, which serve as the individual operating-shafts for the respective sets of nail-forming mechanisms. a

The several sets of nail feeding, cutting, and heading devices or of nail-forming devices are of identical construction and are arranged symmetrically around the axis of the machine, and a transfer-table or carrier 11 is arranged in operative relation to all of such sets of nail-forming devices and is journaled concentrically with the shaft 6, but independently of said shaft. To afiord sufficient support to this transfer-table, I prefer to provide ball and roller bearings 12 13 therefor in the frame 4,the ball-bearing 12 serving for vertical support and the rollerbearing-13 for lateral support.

In this machine the motions of the feed, cutting, and heading devices are in line parallel t0 the plane of rotation of the table, the wires being fed to the table preferably in a radial direction. The straightening-rolls 14, reciprocating clutch feed devices 15 and cutting-dies 16 0f the four sets of nail-forming mechanisms, are supported in brackets 17, extending radially from the frame 4. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The feed-clutches are operated by rock-shafts 18, with arms 18 18 arms 18 being operated, through toggle-joints 19, from rock-shafts 20, journaled vertically in frames 3 and 4 and operated by arms 21 and links 22 from cranks 23 on the respective operating-shafts 10. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) The respective pairs of cutting-dies 16 are connected to operate in unison, each die being operated by toggle-joint 24 from a rock-shaft 25 and the rock-shafts for each pair of dies being connected together by arms 26 and link 27. Each shaft 10 carries an eccentric 28, operating a link 29, which is connected to one of the operating-cranks 26 of each pair of cutting-dies. 7

Each wire is by the above-described mechanism fed intermittently between the cutting-dies, and after each feeding movement the cutting-dies cut off a nail-blank and at the same time point it, with the point directed toward the center of the transfer-table. The blank so cut ofi rests in a guide or fixed support 30, suitably arranged for the purpose, and in the next ensuing feed movement of the wire between thecutters the blank so cut off is forced by the advancing wire out of this guide and into or between the clamps or jaws on the transfer-table.

The transfer-table carries as many clamps as may be deemed desirable, sixteen being here shown. Each of said clamps comprises a fixed jaw or die 31, set inthe table 11, and a movable jaw '32, provided with a die 32 and pivoted to the table at 33, so as to be ver tically yielding, a spring 34 being provided to press the movable die toward the fixed die. The fixed and movable dies are conformed to. the shape of the wire. For example, if a triangular wire is used a V-shaped groove 35 is formedin one of the dies, as indicated, so as to enable the dies to firmly clamp the wire. The nail-blank having been pointed at its ad- Vancingend, it readily enters between the dies and forces the same slightly apart. During the reception of the nail-blank into the clamps the transfebtable is stationary, but when the blank is fully entered the table moves around one step. This movement of the table carries the nail-blanks just received away from the feeding devices and at the same time brings the next nail-blanks in advance in operative relation with the heading mechanism. This intermittent movement of the table is effected, preferably, by a pin and slot wheel movement, (shown in Figs. 2 and 10,) the pinwheel 36 being carried by one of the shafts 10 and engaging by its pins 37 and lockingfaces-38 with the slots 39 and locking-faces 40 of theslot-wheel 41, so as to alternately move and lock the slot-wheel in a step-by-step manner, while giving a gradual start and stop to each movement. This intermittent movement of the slot-wheel is transmitted to the transfer-table 11 by means of a pinion 42 on theshaft 43 of the slot-wheel engaging in a large gear 44, secured to the table. As the nail-blanks are carried by the movement of the table into position for the operation of the header the nail-clamps are closed tight on the nail by pressure-rolls 45, (see Figs. 8 and 9,) which engage with the tops of the movable clamp-j aws and hold same tightly down on the nail-blanks. during the heading operation. These clamp-rolls are adjustably supported by suitable brackets 46 from the top frame 5, as shown in Fig. 5, to give the required amount of pressure. After the heading operation is performed and during ejection it is necessary to lift the movable clamp-jaws, and this is effected by means of releasing-rolls 48, which are adjustably mounted on dependent brackets 49, these rolls being horizontally out of line with the clam p-j aws, so as not to engage the clamps proper, but to engage lugs 50, projecting laterally from the tail of said clampjaws, so as to tip up the other end of the jaw and open the clamp.

The heading mechanism (shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and at the left of Fig. 2) comprises the heading-die 51, movable in a guide or support 52, its movement being horizontal and radially toward and away from the periphery of the transfer-table, so that as the successive nail-blanks are brought up, supported, and held in position opposite the heading-die an in-and-out movement of the heading-die forms the head, this movement being effected by a toggle-joint connection 53 between the heading-dies and the rock-shaft 20, before referred to, which effects the feeding operation, it be: ing understood that the feeding and heading operations are simultaneous in this machine. The nails having been thus headed are in the case of plain untwisted nails ready for ejection, this being effected by an ejecting device consisting of ejector-rod 55, mounted in a suit able support and actuated during the next step or movement of the transfer-table to impinge on the inner ends of the nails and force them radially out of the clamps. Inasmuch as the machine as herein shown is adapted to twist the nails before ejection, it will be convenient to describe the twisting and ejecting devices in conjunction.

Spindles 57 are rotatably mounted in or on the transfer-table, with their axes directed radially to the table and in line with the nailblank axis. as they are fed through the clamps, the outer ends of the spindles having sockets 58, conforming to the shape 'of the nail, so that when the nail-blank is fed in between the clamp-jaws its inner end enters this spindle and on rotation of the spindle is carried around, while the outer or head end is held by the clamp. To rotate the spindles 57, so as, to twist the nail-blanks, said spindles are provided with bevel-gear connections 59 60 to vertical shafts 6l,which carry at their upper ends star-wheels 62. These star-whee1s are normally-held from accidental rotation by springpawls SO, engaging with notches in stop-disks 81 on said vertical shafts. The said starwheels in the rotative movementof the, table 11 are engaged by pins 63, depending from frame 5, so as to turn the star-wheels and rotate the twisting-spindles, the pins being so placed that this section takes place in the movement or step of the table succeeding the heading operation. In the next table movement the nail is ejected, this being effected by the ejector-rod 55, which passes axially through the spindle 57 and is carried by a block 64, sliding in a guide 05. The inner end of this block is engaged bya lug 66 on an arm of a lever 66, which is pivoted on a rock-shaft or pivot on a bracket (57, depending from top frame 5, the other arm of this lever carrying a roll 68, engaging with the teeth (39 of a multiple-toothed or cam wheel 70, which has as many teeth as there are clamps on the table. As the roll (38 on the lever passes off of the point of a tooth in this Wheel a spring 71 turns the lever, so as to cause the ejector-rod to be pushed outwardly, thereby ejecting the finished nail. When the clamp thus emptied comes opposite the feed devices of the next set, another blank is forced into it and presses the ejector-rod back, it being understood that the lug 66 has by this time passed from behind the end of the ejector-rod. There are four of the ejector-levers 60, corresponding to the four sets of cutting, feeding, and heading devices, and each of such levers engages with the successive ejector-rods scriatim in the above-described manner.

The operation of the machine as a whole is is follows: Four wires being fed into place, the four cutting devices simultaneously out four blanks, which for the moment lie loosely in the guides between the cutters, a movement of the table taking place during the cutting operation. The table then comes to rest momentarily and each feeding device pushes another nail length of the wire between the cutters, the blank just cut off being pushed forward by the advancing wire end, and thus being forced to enter one of the clamps on the table, four nails being simultaneously inserted in the table in this manner. The table then makes a rotative movement or step but this movement, with the arrangement of clamps shown in the drawings, only carries the nailblank half-way to the heading-point. During the next step of the table another set of nailblanks are inserted in the clamps next in the rear of those first filled. The next or second step of the table or carrier brings the nailblanks first inserted into position opposite the heading devices, each of which makes an in-and-outmovement, heading up the respective nails, which are held during this pause of the table by the pressure of the clampingrolls 45 on the clamps. At the same time a third set of blanks is beingintroduced in the the table, the feeding devices acting simultaneously with the heading devices. Fig. 4 shows a portion of the parts when a nail has just been headed up in this manner at a. Another nail has just been introduced at b, the end of the stock-Wire being shown at 0. Immediately after leaving this point and moving in the direction of thearrowin Fig. at the inner end of the ejector-rod comes into engagement with the lug 66 on the ejector-lever, this lug being at this time thrown inwardly by the action of the toothed wheel but while the nail is still held by the clamp under the action of the clamp-spring andim mediately after heading the twisting devices come into operation, as above described, to twist the nail,this operation taking place during the first part of the rotative step of.the transfer-table next succeeding the heading operation. After the twisting is effected the roll 68 of the ejector-lever falls off of atooth on the ejector-actuating wheel 70, and at the same timethe releasing-M1149 opens the corresponding clamp, the nail being thus violently ejected. The same operation then ensues for the succeeding nail-blanks in continuous repetition.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In anail-machine, thecombination with a rotary nail-blank-transferring device, .of a plurality of heading devices arranged symmetricallyaround said rotary transferring device and adapted to simultaneously head a plurality of nail-blanks while held in said transferring device, and to act in opposite di rections relatively to said transferring device so as to balance the pressure thereon.

2. In a nail-machine, the combination with a rotary nail-blank-transferring device, of a 3. In a nail-machine, the combination with Y a rotatively-movable table, and a plurality of clamps carried thereby, of a plurality of sets of nail-blank feeding and heading devices moving radially with respect to said table, and means for operating said heading devices simultaneously, for simultaneously heading a plurality of nails while held by said clamps, said feeding and heading devices being symmetrically arranged with reference to the said a nail-heading mechanism of a rotatively-movable transfer-table, adapted to receive the nail-blanks from the nail-feeding mechanism ment of the table to operate the ejecting de- Vice.

6. A circular revolubl'e series of nailblank' clamps in combination with two ormore heading devices whose movements are in line radial to the clamp-circle, and which are equidistant from each other, and which act on the blanks simultaneously, so that the pressure exerted by each is balanced by another or others, and thus the clamp-table shaft or other support is released from the strain due to the thrust of the headers.

7. A series of cutting, pointing and feeding devices alternating with an equal number of heading devices, and all arranged at uniform intervals about a circular system of nail-blank clamps, their axes being radial to the clampcircle.

8. Thecombination with two or more sets of nail cutting, feeding and heading devices, of a table carrying clamps adapted to receive nail-blanks from the feeding and cutting devices, and to transfer such blanks to the heading devices, means for intermittently rotating saidtable and twisting devices carried by said table and adapted to twist the nail-blanks while held by the clamps.

9. The combination with two or more sets of nail cutting, feeding and heading devices, of a table carrying clamps adapted to receive nail-blanks from the feeding and cutting devices, and to transfer such blanks to the head- 5' ring devices, means for intermittently rotating 1 said table, twisting devices carried by said table and adapted to twist the nail-blanks frame, a central operating-shaft, a plurality of sets of nail cutting, feeding and heading devices operated from said shaft, and a rotary transfer-table supported by bearings in said frame, independent of the central operating-shaft and concentric therewith, and carrying clamps adapted to transfer the nailblanks from the cutting and feeding devices to the heading devices.

12. An approximately-circular table or clamp-carrier,revolving in an approximatelya horizontal plane carrying a series of nailblanks on or adjacent to its periphery, in combination with twoor more sets of cutting, feeding, guiding and heading devices, placed at uniform intervals about the circular clamp series, and aneqnal number of nail-discharging devices adjusted to operate alternately with said cutting, feeding and heading devices, devices for effecting the opening and closing of the clamps, and. means for operating the various devices aforesaid.

JAMES ATKINS.

Witnesses:

A. P. KNIGHT, J. GREEN. 

